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Tuning options for a 9 string bass

BIG CHEETO

BIG CHEETO

Jul 23, 2006
616
1
Fishing off of Catalina Island
#1
I'm curious to see how some of you guys would consider tuning a 9 string bass.

I'm getting my new custom 9 string Bee Bass soon, and am thinking about tuning it from low B all the way up in standard fourths. Can someone tell me what the tuning would be from low B all the way through to the 9th string? Thanx in advance!

I like the idea of having a higher range on my strings. Ive dabbled with the low F before and its its fun to mess with, but i think id'e get more use out of higher strings rather than lower ones.
 
#5
john turner said:
i would definitely have the low F# on the bass, but that's just me.

i like the tuning with the highest two strings to be a half step flat, like a guitar, so i'd tune 9, if i had one, f#-b-e-a-d-g-c-eflat-aflat
Click to expand...

Aren't the two higest strings a whole step flat that way?

Shouldn't standard be F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bflat, making the "guitar style" tuning, F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-E-A, I would think?
 
#6
Wow! Nine strings?

Six more strings and it's be a zither.
zither2.jpg


I saw a seven and a six at GC yesterday and they were like trying to play an ironing board to me.

I cannot say that I would want one, but I'd pay a buck to see someone else play it.

Isn't it confusing?

Who makes pups for something like that or do they use a five and a four coil?
 
#8
Here is a suggestion, tune the high strings in 5th and octaves from the lower strings, like a guitar does on the B-E strings.
ie.
B-E-A-D-G-B-E-A-D

You get octaves and 5th with the open strings. One Major 3rd is needed between the fourths.

You could put the 3rd somewhere else..

B-E-A-D-F#-B-E-A-D

B-E-A-D-G-C-E-A-D

Or you can set up a 5th in the bottom for some strong drones.

A-E-A-D-G-B-E-A-D
 
#9
Darkstrike said:
Aren't the two higest strings a whole step flat that way?

Shouldn't standard be F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bflat, making the "guitar style" tuning, F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-E-A, I would think?
Click to expand...

yeah, you're right heh. i'm so used to my 7's and 8's being b-e at the top, that in my mind i dropped em further. i caught it on the c (originally had b-eflat-aflat) but i didnt catch it on the other two heh.
 
#10
Darkstrike said:
Aren't the two higest strings a whole step flat that way?

Shouldn't standard be F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bflat, making the "guitar style" tuning, F#-B-E-A-D-G-C-E-A, I would think?
Click to expand...

The guitar-style tuning would be: F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E-A, as the second string from the top is tuned a half-step flat. Your standard tuning is correct, if your using the standard perfect 4th method.
 
#11
TheBasicBassist said:
The guitar-style tuning would be: F#-B-E-A-D-G-B-E-A, as the second string from the top is tuned a half-step flat. Your standard tuning is correct, if your using the standard perfect 4th method.
Click to expand...

that's the tuning that a lot of erg players use, but to get the same chord shapes as a standard guitar i would use only the top two being tuned a half step down - f#-b-e-a-d-g-c-e-a. one of my 7's is tuned e-a-d-g-c-e-a and that works pretty well.
 
#12
SurferJoe46 said:
Wow! Nine strings?

Six more strings and it's be a zither.


I saw a seven and a six at GC yesterday and they were like trying to play an ironing board to me.

I cannot say that I would want one, but I'd pay a buck to see someone else play it.

Isn't it confusing?

Who makes pups for something like that or do they use a five and a four coil?
Click to expand...

Yes sir! :bassist: Nine strings. I've been playing seven string basses for about 8 years now, and a couple more strings these days for me would be more than welcome.

I had to get my pups custom wound by Delano Pickups I'm getting a triple set of hum canceling jazz pups. Brady Muckelroy came up with the setup for the Delano Tripple Jazz Pup and electronics that are going into my bass.

Heres a pick of my bass as of today.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#13
BIG CHEETO said:
Yes sir! :bassist: Nine strings. I've been playing seven string basses for about 8 years now, and a couple more strings these days for me would be more than welcome.
Click to expand...

Un-believable.

May I ask what the reason is for all the other strings besides the obvious, I mean.

Do you use them for filling in for a guitar or do you just go solo with it a lot and have all that extra board acreage to get to chords?

I really am intrigued. Can you point me to any YouTube 9-string vids?

Do you transpose scales further up in pitch/octave like Hirojoshis or Enigmatic Minors or what? This blows me away - seriously!

I mean - what do the fretted positions look like?
 
#15
That neck looks like someone took an ironing board, threw some rosewood on it, and called it a day. I would go with either B-E-A-D-G-C-F-Bb-Eb (4ths), B-E-A-D-G-B-E-A-D (Guitar), or, if you feel adventuresome, get it tuned like an orchestral instrument in 5ths, and go B-F#-C#-G#-D#-A#-F-C-G. Whatever tuning you choose, those strings are being custom wound.
 
#16
BIG CHEETO said:
heres a lil clip.

tunned in all fourths

Click to expand...


Well ----------------------------- ahem!

I give it a TWO 'cause I find it a little hard to dance to.

That's incredible though that you can play something that complicated - even tuned in fourths. I couldn't play it if all the strings were tuned the same.

I recognize talent when I see it, although it's not my style ---again, ahem!

Congrats on finding a niche and filling it though. Is there much call for music like that?

I bet you don't gig any weddings or baby showers though.

All joking aside - that's still very interesting and although from my viewpoint, somewhat strange - but you are obviously very talented.
 
#17
check out these clips. they're from a guy named jean baudin - he's mostly an 11 stringer. his band gig is a metal band, but this stuff is him solo, totally different and exceedingly beautiful.

Link Removed

listen especially to "transcend" and "be water my friend" - two of my favorites.
 
#18
john turner said:
check out these clips. they're from a guy named jean baudin - he's mostly an 11 stringer. his band gig is a metal band, but this stuff is him solo, totally different and exceedingly beautiful.

Link Removed

listen especially to "transcend" and "be water my friend" - two of my favorites.
Click to expand...

I'm listening to it (Transcend) right now.

RE: Oddly interesting and kinda ethereal. Lots of loops and reverb.

OK - so when does a bass become a small harp or a hammerless piano?

It's not intended as a slight but I feel this isn't really 'bass-playing' at all. It's a whole new instrument.

I think it shot right past the qualification test for a bass-category about four or five strings ago.

Still - the music's nice and very relaxing - so far! I also hear lots of chords and harmonics. It's still very good.

"Be Water, My Friend" is on now. Good stuff.

Did I say "good" too much? Not really.

("Vanishing" playing now.)
 

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